History of the art of war

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Delbruck's great pioneering "Geschichte der Kriegskunst" is a comprehensive work on the history and organisation of wars. It spans the centuries from the Persian Wars to Clausewitz at the beginning of the 19th century. Although individual details have been criticised, Delbr ck counts among the great 19th century German historians, Gregorovius, Mommsen, von Ranke and Burckhardt. Delbruck puts paid once and for all to the view that wars are only conducted by the leaders in the field; for him, military organisation and changes in tactics over the centuries are of primary significance, and he relates these changes to political history. At the same time he unfolds a living panorama of the various social groupings and the cultural context.